Knitting machine



Aug. 30, 1932. w. LARMOUR 1,874,198

KNITTING menu 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR:

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W. LARMOUR KNITTING MACHINE Aug. 30, 1932.

Filed Feb. 19. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 g1 MUN FMN INVENTOR:

WITNESSES Aug. 30, 1932. w, LARMQUR 7 1,874,198 Q KNITTING MACHINE FiledFeb. 19, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES 3M JAI J/IZ W INVENTOR:

J/L/Z'ZZZam Larmowr A TTORNEYS Aug. 30, 1932. I -w. LARMOUR KNITTINGMACHINE Filed Feb. 19. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ML m M m m W W ATTORNEYS. v

fatented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM LARMOITR, OFPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO HARRY MCADAINIS, OFATLANTIG- CITY, NEW JERSEY KNITTING MACHINE Application filed February19, 1930. Serial No. 429,550.

in a co-pending application, Serial Number 429,549 filed by meconcurrently herewith.

In the fabric of the application supra, longitudinally extending chainsof loops, formed from as many separate auxiliary yarns, serve tocontinuously interlock the horizontal courses of the body loops of thefabric formed from a main yarn with incidental production of pin stripeeffects when main and auxiliary yarns of contrasting shades or colorsare employed in the knitting.

The main objects of my'present invention are to enable production ofravel-proof knitted fabric having the above indicatedcharacteristics,-in a rapid and economic manner; and to attain thisdesideratum through provision, in connection with both circular and flatknitting machines, of simple and rel able mechanism suitable for thepurpose.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be manifest from thedetailed description and attached drawings, wherein Fig. I shows anaxial sectional view of the knitting head of a circular knitting machineconveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. II is a fragmentary plan view of the knitting head with partsthereof broken away and other parts in section.

Fig. III is a perspective view showing the manner of cooperation betweenthe, needles and associate instrume'ntalities or web holders whereby theauxiliary yarns are fed individually to the needles concurrently withthe main or body yarn.

Fig. IV is a diagrammatic view showing the texture of the ravel prooffabric produced by the machine.

Fig. V is a perspective view of one of the auxiliary yarn feedinginstrumentalities.

Fig. VI is a cross sectional view of one of the instrumentalities anddrawn to a larger scale.

Fig. VII is a fragmentary perspective view to supplement Fig. III andshow more clearly how the auxiliary yarns are fed to the individualneedles concurrently with the serving of the main or body yarn to them.

Fig. VIII is a diagrammatic plan view of the parts illustrated in Fig.VII.

Fig. IX is a view, similar to Fig. VIII, showing the parts in differentrelative positions incident to feeding of the main and auxiliary yarns.

Fig. X is a sectional View, like Fig. I, of a circular knitting machineembodying a modification of my invention.

Fig. XI is a perspective View of the modified type of auxiliary yarnfeeding instrumentality used in the organization of Fig. X.

Fig. XII is a fragmentary cross sectional view of a fiat knittingmachine embodying my invention; and,

Fig. XIII is a perspective view of the auxiliary yarn instrumentalityemployed in the flat knitting machine of Fig. XII.

To facilitate understanding of my invention, I will first brieflydescribe, by reference to Fig. IV of these illustrations, the texture ofthe ravel-proof fabric with the production of which the presentimprovements are concerned. As shown, the body of the fabric is knit asa plain web from a main or body yarn which is indicated as being white,and designated by the letter Y. The several horizontal courses C, itwill be noted, are continuously interlocked-by loops L of chains whichextend longitudinally of the fabric and which are formed from as manyseparate auxiliary yarns Y, these being distinguished from the main yarnY in'the drawings by stippling. It will be further observed that thechain loops L are interknitted only with the loops L which constitutethe lengthwise rib of needle wales .W so that the natural lateralelasticity of the fabric is left unimpaired.

In the circular knitting machine depicted in Figs. I and II, the needlecylinder is continuously rotated by bevel gearing 16 with impartation ofup and down movement to the needles 17 by cams 18 on the stationary bedplate 19, and formation of plain fabric from the main or body yarn Ywhich is directed to said needles through the eye of a stationaryuide-20. Cooperating with the needles 17 Incident to formation of thefabric loops as just explained, are transversely reciprocatinginstrumentallties 21, whereof one is shown in perspective in Fig. V. Theforward end portions 22 of these instrumentalities 21 are of thin sheetmetal and supported for sliding movement between the needles 17 in theradial guide grooves of the usual sinker head 23 at the top of theneedle cylinder 15; and said end portions are suitably profiled tofunction in the capacity of web holders in a well known way, the webholding notches being indicated at 24. Above the notch 24, the endportion 22 of each instrumentality 21 is formed with anangularly-directed forwardly projecting finger 25 which is pierced at26, 26 (see Fig. VII) to direct an auxiliary yarn Y, as hereinafter morefully explained, to the corresponding needle 17 concurrently withfeeding to the latter of the main yarn Y. In each instance, theauxiliary yarn Y is supplied from a rotary bobbin 27 carried within thehollow of the enlarged circular holder portion 28 of the instrumentality21.

- This bobbin 27 has the form of a flat spool and is retained throughengagement of its peripheral groove with an inwardly projectingcircumferential flange 29 that extends half way around the opening inthe holder portion 28 of the instrumentality 21, (see ig. VI), suchengagement being maintained through cooperation of a spring finger 30which, at one end, is anchored in an internal concentric recess 31 ofsaid holder portion, and at its other end formed with a projection 32 toengage the peripheral groove of the bobbin 27 at a point diametricallyopposite the aforementioned retaining flange 29. The holder portion 28of each instrumentality 21 is furthermore cut away as at 33 (Fig. I) toprovide a clearance so that the bobbin 27 may be eleased from engagementwith the flange 29 against the pressure of the spring 30 and removed forthe purposes of replenishing the yarn Y. Enroute to the eyes 26 of thefinger on the end portion 22 of the instrumentality 21, the yarn Y isdirected through a guide eye 34 in the holder portion as shown in Figs.I and V. The rearward tail projections 35 of the instrumentalities 21engage radial grooves in the circumferential shoulder 36 of a downwardlydished annulus 37 which is secured, by means of screws 38 to the bottomof the sinker head 23 so as to revolve with the needle cylinder 15.Upward butts 39 on the tail projections 35 of the instrumentalities 21are acted upon by a cam 40, 41 on a ring 42 (Fig. II) superposed on theannulus 37 and held against rotation after the manner of an ordinarysinker cap ring by means not shown. As shown, the cams 40, 41 aresuitably configured to impart the necessary radial movement to theinstrumentalities 21 incident to cooperation of the latter with theneedles 17 in forming fabric loops.

Incident to operation of the machine, the main yarn Y is taken by theneedles l7; and a plain body fabric is produced, the instrumentalities21 cooperating after the manner of ordinary web holders. Due to aninitial inward movement of the instrumentalities 21 induced by the cam41 just as the needles 17 are descending to take the main yarn Y, itwill be seen from Figs. III, VII and VIII, that the auxiliary yarns Yare passed by the angularly directed fingers 25 to one side of theneedles 17, whereby said auxiliary yarns are laid crosswise of the mainyarn Y be neath the needle hooks. After the needles 17 have descendedbelow. the level of the fingers 25, the instrumentalities 21 areadvanced still further by the cam 41, to the position shown in Fig. I toengage the fabric within their notches 24; and to hold it as the needles17 rise subsequently to take new yarn. Incident to such further advanceof the instrumentalities 21 it will be particularly observed from Figs.III and VIII that the fingers 25 are moved over the tops of the needles17. Upon ensuing retraction of the instrumentalities 21, the yarns Y arepassed to the opposite side of the needles 17. Thus, with eachreciprocation of the instrumentalities 21, the auxiliary yarns Y arewrapped around the coordinated needles 17 with assurance of positivefeeding of said yarns to them. Repetitions of the described cycleobviously result in the formation and interknitting of chain loops ofthe auxiliary yarns Y with the loops formed on the needles 17 in theregular way from the main yarn Y and in production of the ravel-prooffabric described in connection with 'g. IV.

By reference to Fi IV once more it will benoted that the chain loops Lof the auxiliary yarns Y overlie only.one side of the rib or needlewaleloops L at the face of the fabric, this being due to the definitefeeding of said auxiliary yarns crosswise of the main yarn Y as aboveexplained. Thus, with the use of main and auxiliary arns Y, Y ofcontrasting colors it is p ossib e through my present invention, tosecure sharply defined ornamental pin stripe effects in the fabric inaddition tosafeguarding said fabric against ravelling.

In the modification shown in Figs. X and XI, the instrumentalities 21ahave the form of ordinary web holders except for the addition of fingers25a for directing the auxiliary yarns Y to the needles for inco orationinto chain loops. The instrumentallties 21a can therefore be substitutedin any circular knitting machine for the usual web holders and operatedby the original web holder actuating cams in the cap ring provided thatslight changes are made in the configuration of such cams topredetermine the two stage inward movement of the instrumentalities 21adescr bed in connection with the previous embodiment. Suitableprovisions are of course necessary for supporting the auxiliary yarn Ysupply bobbins above the needle cylinder 15. Such changes and additionsare however within the province of any skilled knitting machine mechanicand it has therefore been deemed unnecessary to show them in thedrawings. All the corresponding parts of the machine in Fig. X aredesignated by the same reference numerals which were employed in Figs. Ito IX.

A fiat knitting machine may be readily adapted to the purposes of myinvention by replacing the usual sinkers and dividers withinstrumentalities such as delineated at 21?) in Figs. XII and XIII.These instrumentalities 216 are provided, as shown, with forwardlyextending angularly directed fingers 25?) above their web sinkingnotches 41 to serve the auxiliary yarns Y to the needles 176 incident tosinking of the main yarn Y fed by the carrier 20?) in the usual manner.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, a series of needles; and a complemental seriesof independently movable sliding in'strumentalities to cooperate withthe needles in knitting fabric, said instrumentalities each embodying anapertured laterally directed portion for serving individual yarns to therespectively coordinated needles.

2. In a knitting machine, a series of needles; and a coinplementalseries of independent sliding instrumentalities reciprocativetransversely between the needles and cooperating with them in knittingfabric, said instrumentalities each embodying an apertured laterallydirected angular projection for serving individual yarns totherespectively coordinated needles.

3. In a knitting machine a series of needles; and a complemental seriesof independently movable web holder instrumentalities to cooperate withthe needles incident to knitting of fabric, said web holderinstrumentalities each embodying an apertured finger with guide eyes forserving individual yarns to the respectively associated needles.

4. In a knitting machine, a series of needles; a feed to serve a mainyarn toall of the needles; and a complemental series of individuallyassociated sliding instrumentalities to cooperate with the needles inknitting fabric, said instrumentalities embodying angu'larly-directedforwardly-projecting fingers with eyes for serving individual auxiliaryyarns to the respectively coordinated needles.

5. In a knitting machine, a series of needles; a feed to serve a mainyarn to the needles; and a complemental series of slidinginstrumentalities to cooperate with the needles in knitting fabric, saidinstrumentalities each embodying a forwardly-projecting apertured fingerto concurrently serve individual auxiliary yarns to the respectivelycoordinated needles.

6. In a knitting machine, a series of needles; a feed to serve. a mainyarn to the needles; and a complemental series of web holderstocooperate with the needles in knitting fabric, said web holdersembodying angularly-directed upper forwardly-projecting fingers havingguide eyes to concurrently direct individual auxiliary yarns to therespectively coordinated needles.

7.111 a knitting machine, a series of needles: a feed to serve a mainyarn to the needles; and sliding instrumentalities withangularly-directed apertured fingers for laying individual auxiliaryyarns crosswise of the main yarn into the hooks of the needles forformation into loops concurrently with said main yarn.

8. In a knitting machine, a series ofneedles; and a complemental seriesof lndependent sliding instrumentalities reciprocative transverselybetween the needles and 00- operating with them in knitting fabric, saidinstrumentalities having forwardly-extending angularly-directed fingerswith guide eyes adapted, incident to inward movement, to feed individualyarns to respectively coordinated needles.

9. In a knitting machine, a series of needles; and a series ofindependently movable sliding instrumentalities to cooperate with theneedles in knitting fabric, each such instrumentality embodying aninterior flange affording rotary support for an individual supply ofyarn and an apertured guide finger to direct the yarn from said supplyto the coordinated needle.

10. In a knitting machine, a series of needles; and a series ofindependently movable sliding instrumentalities to cooperate with theneedles in knitting fabric, each such instrumentality embodying anenlarged circular holder portion with a sectional fiangc affordingperipheral guidance for a friction ally restrained revolvable yarnsupply bobbin and also having an upper apertured finger to direct theyarn from the bobbin to the individually associated needle.

11. In a knitting machine, a series of needles; and a series ofindependent transversely sliding web holder instrumentalities tocooperate with needles incident to knitting of fabric, each such webholder instrumentality carrying an individual supply of yarn and havinga laterally-directly forward projection with a guide eye to direct theyarn from the supply to the individually coordi nated needle.

12. A web holder instrumentality to cooperate with individual needles ofknitting machines, said instrumentality having a web holding notch, anda yarn guide finger with a guide eye projecting forwardly at level abovethe Web holding notch.

13. A Web holder instrumentality to cooperate with individual needles ofknitting machines, said instrument-ality havin a web holding notch, andan angularly-(Iirected forwardly-projecting yarn guide finger with aguide eye at a level above its web holding notch.

14. A sliding instrumentality to cooperate with individual needles of aknitting machine in forming fabric loops, said instrumentality embodyingan upper apertured projection to direct a yarn to the coordinatedneedle, and means removably sustained in said instrumentality carrying asupply of such yarn.

15. A sliding instrumentality to cooperate with individual needles of aknitting machine in forming fabric loops, said instrumentality embodyingan angularly-directed apertured finger to direct a yarn to thecoordinated needle, and a rotatable bobbin removably retained Within theinstrumentality carrying a supply of such yarn.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this 17th day of February, 1930.

. WILLIAM LARMOUR.

